Cutting press having improved means for handling cut products

ABSTRACT

A cutting press having a beam and a bed arranged for relative movement of approach and separation is provided with improved means for handling the cut product. The product handling means includes an improved separator means comprising separator elements and a plurality of independently yieldable support elements disposed above a table for receiving the cut product to urge separation of the cut product along cuts made by the press to lay the cut product on the table.

Umted States Patent 1151 3,656,380 Creffield [4 Apr. 18, I972 [54] CUTTING PRESS HAVING IMPROVED MEANS FOR HANDLING CUT References Cited' PRODUCTS UNlTED STATES PATENTS [721 Invent David Creme, Brim England 3,108,509 10/1963 Felix ..s3/1s7 x Assigne-e: Corporation, Boston Mass Basable Filed; p 27, 1970 I Primary Examiner-Frank T. Yost [211 App]. NOJ 48,568 ,I: i$rl2g1ey-W. Bigelow Hall, Richard A. Wise and George C.

Related US. Application Data 57 I ABSTRACT [62] Division of Ser. No. 682,953, Nov. 14, 1967. 1

' A cutting press having a beam and a bed arranged for relative [30] Foreign Application Priority Data movement of approach and separation is provided with improved means for handling the cut product. The product han- 1966. Great Bmam "51259/66 dling means includes an improved separator means comprising separator elements and a plurality of independently yielda- [52] US. Cl ..83/96, 83/157, 83/241, hle support elements disposed above a m f receiving the 83/248 83/409 83/518 83/519 cut product to urge separation of the cut product along cuts [5 l Int. Cl ..B65h 29/34 made by the press to lay the cut product on the table [58] Field of Search ..83/86, 87, 92,94,157, 96,

7 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 18 I972 SHEET UlUF 10 PATENTEDAPR 18 1912 SHEET GZOF 1O PATENTEDAFR 18 I972 SHEET USUF 1O PATENTEmPmal'iz v v I 3,656,380 sum near 10 PATENTEDAPR 18 I972 3. 658, 380

sum 09 BF 10 PATENTEDAPR 18 1972 SHEET 1 0 0F 10 W wQN W Y CU'l'I'lNG PRESS HAVING IMPROVED MEANS FOR HANDLING CUT PRODUCTS This is a division of application Ser. No. 682,953, filed Nov. 14, 1967 in my name.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l968inmyname.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the aforementioned patent there is described apparatus for cutting sheet material comprising (i) a press having a beam and a bed which is mounted for movement towards and away from the beam whereby sheet material fed therebetween is cut by cutting means in the form of a cutting die mounted on the beam, (ii) a feed table arranged to move between a retracted position, in which an outfeed portion of the table is positioned between the beam and the bed, and an advanced position, in which an infeed portion of the table is so positioned and the outfeed portion is beneath a rearward extension of the press beam, (iii) means mounted on the feed table for clamping the sheet material against the feed table when the table is moved from its retracted to its advanced position, (iv) a clamping member which is supported on the rearward extension of the beam of the press and extends widthwise of the feed table, this clamping member being spring urged downwardly to engage the sheet material on the feed table therebeneath whereby, when the feed table is moved from its advanced to its retracted position, to restrain the sheet material from movement with the table, and (v) a stacking device disposed beneath the rearward extension of the press beam for receiving cut portions of the sheet material from the outfeed portion of the feed table when the table is moved from its advanced to its retracted position.

The stacking device referred to above comprises a stacking table which is movable heightwise with the press bed, in the operation of the apparatus, and also relative to the bed, upward movement of the stacking table being arrested by engagement of the upper surface thereof, or of the upper surface of a stack of cut portions supported thereon, with the undersurface of the outfeed portion of the feed table (which at this time is in its advanced position) with a result that in successive operations of the apparatus the upper surface of the stacking table, or the upper surface of a stack of cut portions supported thereon, is brought to the same, or substantially the same, heightwise position to receive a cut portion thereon when the feed table is moved from its advanced to its retracted position.

It is one of the various objects of the present invention to provide objects of the present invention to provide an assembly for separating cut portions of sheet material for stacking on a table of the type described above. It is a further object of the present invention that such separating provide a clean separation of the cut portions leaving edges free from frayed remains.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION There is herein described, to illustrate the invention by way of example, apparatus for cutting sheet material from a supply of indefinite length, which is generally similar, except as hereinafter described to that described in the aforementioned patent, comprising a press having a stationary beam provided with a rearward extension, and a bed movable towards and away from the beam, a feed table arranged to move between a retracted position, in which an outfeed portion thereof is positioned between the beam and the bed of the press, and an advanced position, in which an infeed portion of the feed table is positioned therebetween and an outfeed portion is positioned beneath the rearward extension, and a stacking device disposed beneath the rearward extension of the press beam and arranged to receive cut portions of sheet material from the feed table when the latter is moved from its advanced to its retracted position, a clamping member being mounted on the feed table for clamping the sheet material to the feed table as the table moves from its retracted to its advanced position, and sheet material being restrained from moving with the feed table as it moves from its advanced to its retracted position.

In the operation of the illustrative apparatus, sheet material to be cut is clamped on the feed table, on the infeed portion thereof, with the feed table in its retracted position. The feed table then moves to its advanced position to carry the material to be cut between the beam and the bed of the press, a portion of sheet material cut during a previous operation of the press being carried on the outfeed portion of the feed table from between the beam and the bed to a position beneath the rearward extension of the beam and above the stacking device. The bed of the press is then raised whereby the sheet material is cut and also a stacking table of the stacking device is raised and its heightwise position is determined by engagement with the under-surface of the feed table. After the cutting operation the press bed is lowered a small distance, e.g. one-eighth inch, to relieve the pressure applied between the beam and the bed while maintaining the sheet material in frictional engagement with the beam and die mounted thereon. The clamping member is then released and the feed table moved to its retracted position while the sheet material is restrained from movement therewith, the cut portions beneath the rearward extension of the beam being thus deposited on the stacking device with the aid of the separator assembly.

As in the apparatus described in the aforementioned patent, the stacking device of the illustrative assembly is arranged to cooperate with the feed table, the stacking table thereof being movable upwardly towards the feed table (after the latter has been moved to its advanced position), when the bed of the press is moved towards the beam, until the upper surface of the stacking table, or of a stack of cut portions supported thereon, engages with the under-surface of the feed table, thereby determining in each cycle of operation of the illustrative assembly the heightwise position of the stacking table relative to the feed table for receiving a further cut portion from the latter subsequently in the cycle of operation, sensing means being provided on the undensurface of the feed table whereby, upon engagement thereof by the upper surface of the stacking table, or of a stack of cut portions supported thereon, further upward movement of the stacking table is prevented.

The feed table of the illustrative apparatus comprises two support bars extending forwardly and rearwardly of the apparatus over a large proportion of the length thereof, grooves being provided therefor in the press bed and the bars being yieldingly supported therein on spring-urged rollers. The support bars carry a hardened steel plate, which constitutes the infeed portion of the feed table and against which the sheet material is cut, a synthetic material plate which constitutes the outfeed portion of the feed table, and a further plate (made for example of polymethyl methacrylate), which constitutes a separator member and which cooperates. with a second separator member shaped complementarily thereto and supported on the rearward extension of the beam of the press to ensure that cut portions of sheet material are separated from the supply thereof when received by the stacking device, as the feed table moves from its advanced to its retracted position as aforesaid. Because of the complementary shapes of the two separator members, which shapes are the same as the cut portions to be separated thereby (and thus even the most intricate shapes are readily separable), a clean separation is achieved.

The second separator member is detachable mounted on the rearward extension of the press beam constituted by a plurality of (viz. four) rearwardly extending arms each having a plurality of spring urged members between any two adjacent ones of which a support block fixed on the second separator member can be received, whereby the second member is supported.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described further in connection with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a left elevation of apparatus including a press, feed table, conveyor and stacking device thereof embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation partly in section on an enlarged scale of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 and illustrating die supporting mechanism;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are partial views of the die supporting mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation with parts broken away, of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the stacking device thereof;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the illustrative apparatus, on an enlarged scale and with parts broken away, showing the feed table, a sheet material clamping member thereof (in a position in which it is held during retraction of the feed table), and means on the press beam for controlling the extent of retracting movement of the feed table;

FIG. 8 is a left elevation, with parts broken away, of parts shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of a rear portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a left elevation of said rear portion on an enlarged scale and with parts broken away;

FIG. 11 is a partial rear elevation, partly in section, showing parts illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, of a fluid logic sensing head of the illustrative apparatus;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic representation of the fluid logic, pneumatic and hydraulic circuits of the stacking device of the illustrative apparatus;

FIG. 14 is a partial side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the illustrative apparatus showing separator means of the illustrative apparatus;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are partial views showing said separator means at different stages in a cycle of operation;

FIG. 17 is a partial section, on an enlarged scale, of the illustrative apparatus showing one of four die locating means for use in a die loading operation; and

FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic representation of an electrical control circuit of the illustrative apparatus.

GENERAL ARRANGEMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the illustrative apparatus, which is generally similar to the apparatus described in the abovementioned patent, is adapted for use in cutting sheet material from a supply of indefinite length. It comprises a moving bed toggle press generally designated 30, a feed table generally designated 32 movable forwardly and rearwardly of the press, a conveyor generally designated 34 arranged at the front of the press for feeding sheet material on the feed table, and a stacking device generally designated 36 disposed at the rear of the press for receiving cut portions of sheet material from the feed table.

Referring now also to FIGS. 2-5, the press 30 comprises a bed 38 movable heightwise on four pillars 40 towards and away from a beam 42 on which is supported a die K comprising a steel backing plate 44 on which is mounted a plywood block 46 for supporting blade portions 48; ejector members 50 of a resilient synthetic material are provided within the areas defined by the blade portions whereby cut material is ejected therefrom. The beam is provided at both its front and rear sides, extending along the length thereof, with brackets 52 to which is secured a hardened ground steel plate 54 covering the whole area of the beam and constituting a die engaging surface thereof. The plate 54 is secured to the brackets by a plurality of screws 56 which pass through the brackets and the plate and have threaded on to depending shank portions thereof peg members 58 which also serve to cooperate with correspondingly positioned apertures 60 formed in the backing plate 44 of the die thus to receive the die in a predetermined relation on the press beam.

FEED TABLE The feed table 32 is in the form of a composite member comprising an infeed portion, in the form of a hardened steel cutting plate 104 on which sheet material is supported during a cutting stroke of the press of the illustrative assembly, an outfeed portion, in the form of a plate 106 of synthetic material which receives cut portions of sheet material and transfers them to the stacking device, and a separator member, in the form of a clear plastic plate 108, which will be referred to hereinafter. The three plates 104, 106, 108 are mounted on two support bars 110 extending fore and aft of the illustrative assembly so as to provide a continuous surface. The bars 110 are supported in grooves 112 formed in the press bed 38, rolls 1 14 being provided in recesses 116 formed in the grooves and projecting upwardly into the grooves under the pressure of springs I 18, so that the feed table is held clear of the press bed during movement fore and aft of the press but can be urged thereagainst during an operative stroke of the press.

Referring now also to FIGS. 7 and 8, secured to the front end portions of the two support bars 110 is a cross plate 120 reinforced by a channel section cross bar 122 at each end of which is mounted an end plate 124 constituting a carriage on which are supported two rollers 126 which ride on rails 128 on support arms 130 secured to the front of the press bed 38 and extending forwardly therefrom.

The rear end portion of each of the support bars 110 is provided with a bracket 132 on which is carried a roller 134, the rollers 134 being arranged to ride on rails 136 mounted on further support arms 138 secured to the rear of the press bed 38 and extending rearwardly therefrom.

Furthermore the feed table 32 is supported centrally by means of four sets of rollers 140 supported on brackets two mounted on the front and two at the rear of the press bed 38.

The feed table 32 is thus supported for movement fore and aft of the illustrative assembly between an advanced position, in which the steel plate 104 lies beneath the press beam 42 and the plate 106 is disposed above the stacking device 36, and a retracted position, in which the plate 106 lies beneath the press beam. For effecting movement of the feed table there is provided in the press bed 38 to the right of center thereof, a hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement CPU to the piston of which is secured a forwardly extending piston rod 144, the front edge portion of the piston rod being fixed to a plate 146 secured to the cross bar 122 and depending therefrom.

The feed stroke of the feed table 32 is adjustable, for different sizes of workpieces to be cut from the sheet material, the maximum stroke being determined in relation to the size of the press beam and bed. Since the advanced postion of the feed table is constant, in that successive feed strokes carry the sheet material to be cut to a determined position relative to the press beam 42 and die K mounted thereon, the retracted position is varied according to the desired length of feed stroke (corresponding to the size of the die). The pressure fluid admitted to the hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement CI-Il (FIG. 7) is controlled by a valve VH1 supported on the front of the press bed 38. The valve is operated by means of a cam block 148 mounted in a hollow member 150 of square cross-section accommodated in a bore 152 in the press bed and threadedly receiving a rearward end portion of the rod 154 secured at its forward end portion in the plate 146, a knob 156 being provided at the forward end of the rod 154. The position of the cam block 148 fore and aft is thus adjustable by turning of the knob 156 to vary the relative fore and aft positions of the member 150 and the rod 154.

The member 150 passes through a square aperture 158 formed in a flanged bush 160 clamped, by means of two clamp screws 162 passing through slots 164 formed in the bush to the front of the press bed for limited rotational movement thereon. Rotation of the bush 160 is effected by means of a handle 166 at the left hand side of the press connected to the disc by a link 168, rotation of the disc between a first and a second position being effective to move the cam block 148 between an operative position, in which during a return stroke of the feed table it engages a plunger 151 connected to the valve VH1, and an inoperative position.

Operative of the valve VH1 by the cam block 148 is effective not only to cause the movement of the feed table to its retracted position to be arrested but also causes the clamping member 90 to move from an inoperative position, away from the upper surface of the feed table, to an operative position.

The clamping member 90 comprises, as above stated, a hollow roller and is mounted on a rod 170 pivotally supported at either end by arms of bell crank levers 172 in turn pivotally mounted in lugs 174 secured to the end plates 124. The other arms of the bell crank levers 172 are pivotally connected to links 176 mounted for sliding movement transversely of the feed table in bearings 178 depending from the under-surface of the cross plate 120. Mounted to the left of center of the plate 146, depending from the cross bar 122, is a piston and cylinder arrangement CH2 a piston rod 179 secured to the piston of which carries a cross pin 180 to opposite ends of which are secured ends of two chains 181, each chain being secured at its other end, to one of the links 176. Movement of the piston rod 179 downwardly is thus effective, through the chains 181, to cause the clamping member 90 to be raised to its inoperative position, springs 177 action between the bearings 178 and the links 176 being effective to return the piston rod heightwise and thus also to move the clamping member to its operative position. In a cutting cycle of operation of the illustrative apparatus, the clamping member is in its operative position during a feed stroke of the feed table, i.e. during movement of the feed table from its retracted to its advanced position, a hydraulic valve (not shown) being provided whereby the clamping member 90 is caused to move to its inoperative position during a return stroke of the feed table.

SEPARATOR MEANS The beam 42 of the illustrative press is provided with a rearward extension in the form of four rearwardly extending support arms 232 (two only shown in FIG. 9) carried on the rear side of the press beam and supported by stays 234 thereon. The four arms are of the same construction and one only will now be described.

Each arm 232 has in cross-section the shape of an inverted U and receives therein eleven support elements 236 of hollow section mounted in the arm 232 end to end. Associated with each element 236 the arm 232 has a boss 238 extending upwardly from the top of the arm for receiving a headed pin 240 the shank of which passes into the element 236 and abuts, at its lower end, against the inner surface of the bottom of the element. A countersunk screw 242 passes through an aperture in the bottom of the element and is threadedly received in a bore formed in the lower end portion of the pin shank so that the element is clamped between the lower end of the shank and the countersunk head of the screw. A spring 244 cmbraces the pin shank and acts between an inner face of the top of the arm 232 and the inner face of the bottom of the element 236 to urge the element downwardly relative to the arm. Also, associated with each element 236, a guide pin 246 is secured to the inner surface of the top of the arm 232 and projecting downwardly to be received in a sleeve 248 mounted in the element 236. Thus the elements 236 are yieldingly mounted, independently of one another, in the arms 232.

The arms 232 are arranged to support a separator member 250 having a separating edge 250a (FIGS. and 16) shaped complementarily to the shape of the edge of the cut portion to be separated thereby and also to the shape of the separating edge 108a of the plate 108 (forming part of the feed table) with which the member 250 cooperates.

In order to enable the member 250 to be supported on the arms 232, it is provided with four hooks 252 secured on the upper surface thereof, each hook comprising an upright portion and a securing portion extending forwardly from the upright portion. The securing portion is received within one of the hollow section elements 236, a portion of the end, remote from the press beam, of the bottom of each element being cut away to receive the upright portion of the hook. In mounting a separator member 250 on the arms, conveniently the operator places it slightly to the left (viewing FIG. 1) of the position in which it is desired to support it and urges it upwardly so that the hooks 252 press against the elements 236 adjacent those on to which it is desired to hook the member thus causing them to retract against the pressure of the springs 244. When the upper surface of the member 250 engages the elements the member is then moved to the right (see FIG. 1) to cause the lower surfaces of the securing portions of the hooks and the upper surface of the member to pass along opposite sides of the bottom of the elements whereby the member is secured thereto. When the member is moved sufficiently to the right the adjacent elements are caused to spring back into their lowermost position, thereby locking the hooks 252, and thus the member 250, in position.

In order that the plate 108 can be positioned accurately in relation not only to the position of the member 250 but also to the length of the feed stroke of the feed table, the position of the feed table fore and aft of the illustrative apparatus can be varied. For this purpose each end plate 124 constituting the carriage for the forward end of the feed table is provided with an outwardly projecting lug 254 on which a clamp 256 can be secured, the arrangement being such that with the clamps 256 in an inoperative condition the feed table can be moved lengthwise of the support bars to a desired position, whereafter it is clamped in position.

In a cycle of operation of the illustrative apparatus a cut portion of sheet material deposited on to the plate 106 of the feed table is carried to a position above the stacking device when the feed table is moved to its advanced position. Thereafter the press bed and stacking table are raised as aforesaid to the limit of approach of the beam and bed, the feed table also being raised with the press bed to urge the cut portion supported thereon against the separator member 250 which, together with the elements 236, is caused to yield upwardly against the pressure of the springs 244. After the sheet material on the steel plate 104 has been cut the bed is lowered through a small distance such that when the feed table is moved to its retracted position the sheet material is restrained from movement therewith. As the plate 108 is drawn forwardly each element 236 returns under spring pressure to its initial position and the cut portion is progressively laid on the stack S. As the plate 108 is drawn past the separator member 250 the latter is held in its retracted position until the plate moves out of engagement therewith, the member 250 then being urged downwardly under the spring pressure and the edge thereof effecting a shear action with the edge of the plate 108 to insure that the cut portion is completely severed from the next portion of sheet material (see FIGS. 15 and 16).

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for cutting sheet material from a supply of indefinite length comprising, in combination, a press having a beam provided with a rearward extension, a bed mounted for relative movement of approach and separation with said beam, a feed table movable between a retracted position in which an outfeed portion of the feed table is positioned between the bottom and the bed of the press and an advanced position in which an infeed portion of the table is positioned between the beam and the bed and said outfeed portion is positioned beneath said rearward extension, said feed table having a leading edge adapted to be shaped in conformity with the shape of the edge of the cut portion to be separated, means for restraining the sheet material from movement with the feed table during movement thereof from said advanced to said retracted position, and a separator member having a separating edge shaped complementarily to the shape of the leading edge of said feed table, said separator member being resiliently supported by said extension for engagement with a cut portion of sheet material when said feed table is in its advanced position and said bed and beam are moved together, said separator member being arranged upon retraction of said feed table to effect with the leading edge thereof a shearing action to insure separation of the cut portion.

2. In a press for cutting sheet material, a feed table reciprocally movable from the press to a position adjacent the press for feeding cut material out of the press, the feed table having a first separator member; a support arm mounted on the press above the feed table position adjacent the press; support elements mounted on the arm for separating the material; means for mounting the support elements on the arm; a second separator member mounted on the support elements for separating material in cooperation with the first separator member; and means for mounting the second separator member on the support elements.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the support arm has an inverted U-cross-section for receiving the support elements.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the means for mounting each of the support elements yield independently of means for mounting each other of the support elements.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the yielding mounting means urge the support elements downwardly from the arm.

6. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said second separator element has an edge shaped complimentary to an edge of the separator member and to the cut in the material.

7. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the second separator mounting means comprises a securing portion of the second separator member for engagement with any pair of the support elements. 

1. Apparatus for cutting sheet material from a supply of indefinite length comprising, in combination, a press having a beam provided with a rearward extension, a bed mounted for relative movement of approach and separation with said beam, a feed table movable between a retracted position in which an outfeed portion of the feed table is positioned between the bottom and the bed of the press and an advanced position in which an infeed portion of the table is positioned between the beam and the bed and said outfeed portion is positioned beneath said rearward extension, said feed table having a leading edge adapted to be shaped in conformity with the shape of the edge of the cut portion to be separated, means for restraining the sheet material from movement with the feed table during movement thereof from said advanced to said retracted position, and a separator member having a separating edge shaped complementarily to the shape of the leading edge of said feed table, said separator member being resiliently supported by said extension for engagement with a cut portion of sheet material when said feed table is in its advanced position and said bed and beam are moved together, said separator member being arranged upon retraction of said feed table to effect with the leading edge thereof a shearing action to insure separation of the cut portion.
 2. In a press for cutting sheet material, a feed table reciprocally movable from the press to a position adjacent the press for feeding cut material out of the press, the feed table having a first separator member; a support arm mounted on the press above the feed table position adjacent the press; support elements mounted on the arm for separating the material; means for mounting the support elements on the arm; a second separator member mounted on the support elements for separating material in cooperation with the first separator member; and means for mounting the second separator member on the support elements.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the support arm has an inverted U-cross-section for receiving the support elements.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the means for mounting each of the support elements yield independently of means for mounting each other of the support elements.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the yielding mounting means urge the support elements downwardly from the arm.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said second separator element has an edge shaped complimentary to an edge of the separator member and to the cut in the material.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the second separator mounting means comprises a securing portion of the second separator member for engagement with any pair of the support elements. 